Chapter 306: Enjoying a Beautiful Dream
Yes, it was true. Natsume had finally managed to pull Xiao from the system's gacha interface just a short while ago.
The moment the Yaksha's golden light flashed across her vision, she immediately slotted him into today's opening act. Ever since she had watched the promotional video for the grand Genshin Impact concert in her past life, she had harbored a deep, lingering desire to witness a live performance in person. Now that the opportunity sat right in front of her, she absolutely refused to let it slip by.
"What a pity," Paimon muttered, floating lazily in the peripheral space of Natsume's consciousness. "Traveler's luck still isn't quite good enough. We haven't seen Diona or Eula yet. Otherwise, today's performance would be absolutely flawless."
Natsume secretly rolled her eyes. Paimon was getting entirely too greedy. 'There are seven gods for the seven nations of Teyvat, and I've already pulled four of them,'she shot back mentally.'Aside from the Cryo Archon who hasn't even been released yet, I'm only missing the Anemo Archon and the Pyro Archon, okay!'"True." Paimon rubbed her chin, forced to concede that the Traveler possessed a terrifyingly good streak in that regard. "But... speaking of which, why haven't you pulled that tone-deaf bard yet? I really thought the first of the Seven Archons you'd get your hands on would be him."'I can't help that. The system's drops mostly depend on luck.'
The heavy velvet curtain fully retracted, bathing the stage in warm, golden spotlights. The performance was officially commencing. Natsume instantly pushed the system banter to the back of her mind, her full attention locking onto the spectacle she had been anticipating for weeks.
"Oh~" Ran breathed out, her eyes sparkling as she leaned forward in her seat. "The opening performance is being conducted by Mr. Zhongli! And look, Albedo, Kaveh, and Ayaka are playing the instruments."
Beside her, Sonoko excitedly hoisted her camera, the shutter clicking rapidly. "Yeah! They're all such handsome men and beautiful women. Honestly, this opening act alone is totally worth the price of admission!" She completely ignored the fact that their tickets had been entirely free.
Hearing Sonoko's enthusiastic squealing, Conan adjusted his glasses and shot her a deadpan glare. 'This girl is literally just looking at their faces,'he grumbled internally.'The music hasn't even started yet, and she's already convinced it's a masterpiece.'
A few seats away, Okiya Subaru possessed absolutely zero interest in the surrounding chatter. The very second the curtain rose, his sharp gaze locked onto the left side of the stage like a heat-seeking missile. His target was a tall, orange-haired man casually holding a guitar.
Childe Tartaglia.
Behind his wire-rimmed glasses, Subaru's perpetually squinted eyes widened a fraction of an inch. A jolt of genuine shock rippled through his chest. He never expected to cross paths with this particular individual at a public concert—and he certainly never imagined that Tartaglia, a known combatant, would be sitting on a stage, calmly preparing to perform.
As the conductor's baton descended and the performance officially began, Subaru forced himself to concentrate on the acoustic guitar melody weaving through the orchestral arrangement. A complex, almost absurd realization settled over him. This man, who had radiated an unfathomable, dangerous aura during their first encounter, actually played the guitar exceptionally well. His fingers danced across the frets with practiced ease.
Come to think of it, every single person currently on that stage belonged to the elusive Teyvat Organization. They were terrifyingly versatile.
A slight twitch pulled at the corner of Subaru's mouth. Were the entry requirements for the Teyvat Organization really this absurdly high? Did recruits not only need to be lethal in combat but also hold mastery over classical instruments?
His curiosity regarding the mastermind behind the Teyvat Organization deepened into a burning obsession. What kind of terrifying charisma and manipulative methods did this mysterious boss possess? To recruit such a diverse group of individuals—each boasting distinct personalities, brilliant talents, and extraordinary lethal skills—and bind them into absolute loyalty... it defied logic. How did they gather these people from clearly disparate backgrounds to forge such a united, impenetrable syndicate? The entire puzzle left the seasoned FBI agent feeling incredibly baffled.
High above the audience, hidden in the shadows of the stage's lighting rig, Nahida easily evaded the crowd's line of sight. Having just recently returned to Japan, she hopped lightly onto a thick steel crossbar suspended directly over the performers. Settling down nimbly, she swung her small legs in perfect rhythm with the sweeping melody. A soft, gentle smile graced her lips as she watched the Geo Archon, Morax, expertly conduct the ensemble.
Her large, emerald-green eyes brimmed with curiosity and bright anticipation. She continually glanced toward the center of the stage, thoroughly captivated by the symphony. Closing her eyes, she listened intently to the precise beat of every note, allowing the emotional resonance of the music to wash over her.
As the grand opening neared its crescendo, Nahida slowly fluttered her eyes open. Her gaze, as vibrant and deep as a pristine forest, swept quietly over the venue. It was as if she could see the soul of every single audience member seated beyond the glare of the stage lights.
Raising her small hands, she connected her thumbs and index fingers, forming a perfect little rectangle to frame the massive crowd below.
"May everyone enjoy a beautiful dream tonight," she whispered, her voice light and melodic, carrying a strange, ethereal weight.
With those words spoken, Nahida slipped backward off the crossbar, her form dissolving smoothly into the cool air, leaving no trace behind.
Down in the audience, the very second Nahida finished her sentence, Natsume blinked. The ambient lighting seemed to shift just a fraction of a degree. She subtly turned her head, exchanging a quiet, knowing glance with Ayato seated nearby. They both understood instantly: the transition was complete. They had entered the dreamscape.
Nahida truly lived up to her divine authority as the Dendro Archon. To pull hundreds of people into a collective dream simultaneously without causing a panic was a terrifying feat of power. Aside from a few exceptionally sensitive individuals—namely, the FBI ace Shuichi Akai, currently disguised as Okiya Subaru, who felt a fleeting, inexplicable wave of spatial awkwardness before dismissing it after a careful scan of his surroundings—no one noticed a thing. Even the famously sharp protagonist, Conan Edogawa, remained completely oblivious to the shift in reality.
Within the flawless embrace of the dream, the opening performance reached its stunning finale. The final chord hung in the air for a split second before the entire venue erupted into thunderous, deafening applause.
Sonoko had been absolutely right; the opening act alone was worth its weight in gold.
Natsume clapped vigorously, a bright smile spreading across her face. Once again, she marveled at her own brilliant decisions.
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